Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on quality of life: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Aims We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate temporal trends in quality of life (QoL) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in randomized clinical trials, and a quantitative comparison from before surgery to up to 5 years after surgery. Methods and results We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO from 2010 to 2020 to identify studies that included the measurement of QoL in patients undergoing CABG. The primary outcome was the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), and secondary outcomes were the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol Questionnaire (EQ-5D). We pooled the means and the weighted mean differences over the follow-up period. In the meta-analysis, 2586 studies were screened and 18 full-text studies were included. There was a significant trend towards higher QoL scores from before surgery to 1 year post-operatively for the SAQ angina frequency (AF), SAQ QoL, SF-36 physical component (PC), and EQ-5D, whereas the SF-36 mental component (MC) did not improve significantly. The weighted mean differences from before surgery to 1 year after was 24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 21.6–26.4] for the SAQ AF, 31 (95% CI: 27.5–34.6) for the SAQ QoL, 9.8 (95% CI: 7.1–12.8) for the SF-36 PC, 7.1 (95% CI: 4.2–10.0) for the SF-36 MC, and 0.1 (95% CI: 0.06–0.14) for the EQ-5D. There was no evidence of publication bias or small-study effect. Conclusion CABG had both short- and long-term improvements in disease-specific QoL and generic QoL, with the largest improvement in angina frequency.